Swimming pool having a cover, whereby the air located inside the cover can be conditioned

ABSTRACT

A swimming pool having a cover is provided, wherein the air located inside the cover can be conditioned. In order to achieve conditions corresponding to high altitude training, the air space inside the cover is connected to an air generator, by way of which the composition of the air can be adjusted and/or changed.

This nonprovisional application is a continuation of InternationalApplication No. PCT/AT2010/000007, which was filed on Jan. 12, 2010, andwhich claims priority to Austrian Patent Application No. GM 19/2009,which was filed in Austria on Jan. 14, 2009, and which are both hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a swimming pool having a cover, whereby the airlocated inside the cover can be conditioned.

2. Description of the Background Art

In a conventional design, a closed swimming pool is provided withheating convectors and with an air dehumidifier. In this known design,the air humidity is set by means of a hygrometer such that theatmosphere feels pleasant for the person in the swimming pool. Thismeans that at lower temperatures the sensation of cold is not increasedby the higher humidity, or that an increased perception of mugginessdoes not occur at high temperatures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a swimming pool inwhich an athlete can be offered different training conditions owing tothe conditioned air.

According to an embodiment of the invention, this object is achieved inthat an air space inside the cover is connected to an air generatorwhich can be used to set or change the air composition.

As a result, swimmers can be spared fitness training in high-altitudetraining camps, because the air composition, particularly the ratio ofoxygen to nitrogen, can be adjusted to any desired altitude owing to theair generator.

To reduce the air space and thereby to achieve a smaller volume of airto be conditioned, the cover can be tightly connected to the swimmingpool edge.

Further, to increase training and to set the training conditions, theswimming pool, provided with the cover, can be formed as acounter-current swimming channel, by which in addition to the aircomposition, the swimming intensity can also be easily adjusted to thespecific athlete in training.

The air space can also be connected to a low-pressure generator, bywhich, in addition to the air composition, the air pressure can beadjusted to the desired altitude training conditions.

The swimming pool can be constructed on a trailer, approved for roadtraffic, together with the associated auxiliary equipment, by means ofwhich it can be transported to the specifically required places fortraining or demonstration purposes, whereby the swimming pool on thetrailer can be ready for use immediately after it is filled with water.

Finally, the cover and the air generator can be adapted to an existingswimming pool and installed, which makes possible a subsequentconversion of an existing swimming pool.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitiveof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1. shows the swimming pool in a longitudinal/vertical section;

FIG. 2. is a plan view of the swimming pool with the cover removed; and

FIG. 3 shows a cross-vertical section taken along line III-III in FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A swimming pool is designated by 1, which is provided with a cover 2. 3is an air generator, which is connected via a supply line 4 and aremoval line 5 to air space 6 of cover 2. The swimming space isdesignated by 7 in which the water is circulated via a circulationchannel 8 by a turbine 9 and thus serves as a counter-current swimmingfacility for the swimmer. The seal between swimming pool 1 and cover 2is designated by 10.

In a manner that is not shown, air space 6 can be connected in additionto a low-pressure generator as well, to change the air pressurepredominating in air space 6.

The air composition in air generator 3 can be set and controlled so thatthe nitrogen to oxygen ratio therein corresponds to the ratio prevailingat an altitude of 2500-3000 m. This corresponds to training facilitiesat a higher altitude, which are typically used by swimmers as well asother competitive athletes for training to improve performance. Inaddition, the air pressure can also be reduced somewhat, namely to thevalue corresponding to the air composition. Suitable training conditionscan be created overall thereby without expensive and time-consumingtraveling being necessary for the athlete.

The dimensions of the swimming pool of the invention can be selectedthereby so that it can be constructed on customary freight trailers andtransported on regular streets without a special permit. The trainingfacility can thereby be made available to swimming clubs or the like atshort notice for some time, whereby the athletes can prepare forrelevant sporting events. After the rental period has expired, thetrailer with the swimming pool and cover is then taken to anotherlocation, where swimmers from other clubs can train.

The counter-current turbine naturally can be controlled in aconventional manner and can be tailored to the physical conditions ofthe swimmer.

The air generator, the circulation turbine, and optionally also alow-pressure generator can be controlled by means of a central computer,in which the personal data of the specific swimmer are stored, so that atraining workload stored for the swimmer can be run throughautomatically.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to beincluded within the scope of the following claims.

1. A swimming pool comprising a cover, whereby air located inside thecover is conditionable, wherein the swimming pool is a counter-currentswimming channel, wherein air space within the cover is connectable toan air generator via which the air composition is settable or changable,and wherein the cover is tightly connectable to a swimming pool edge. 2.The swimming pool according to claim 1, wherein the air space isconnectable to a low-pressure generator.
 3. The swimming pool accordingto claim 1, wherein the swimming pool is constructed on a trailer,approved for street traffic, together with associated auxiliaryequipment.
 4. The swimming pool according to claim 1, wherein the coverand the air generator are adapted to an existing swimming pool andinstalled.